Gay issues prompt church to split
Most members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach could leave in
July.
Mark I. Pinsky
Sentinel Staff Writer
May 6, 2008
Another Central Florida Episcopal congregation has split over the issue
of the denomination's policy on homo***uality.
Most of the members and ministerial staff of Trinity Episcopal Church in
Vero Beach will leave their historic facility in July to form a new
congregation separate from the Episcopal Church, USA, if an agreement is
ratified later this week with the Diocese of Central Florida. The
agreement would formally separate the two groups.
On Sunday, about 200 of the congregation's 700 members who wish to
remain part of the diocese elected a new vestry, the congregation's
governing board. That board is expected to sign a separation agreement
already approved by the diocese and the departing members.
"I hope it shall be," said Warren Winchester, who was elected Sunday as
the vestry's presiding officer.
Those who are leaving insist the issue is about adherence to biblical
principles, but the precipitating events revolve around the
denomination's positions on homo***uality. They opposed the 2003
consecration of openly gay the Rev. V. Gene Robinson as bishop of New
Hamp****re, and what they say is the national denomination's
permissiveness toward congregations that bless same-*** unions.
Bishop John Howe of the Diocese of Central Florida opposed Robinson's
consecration as well as the ordination of all non-celibate gay clergy
and the blessing of same-*** unions.
For the rest, go to:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/services/newspaper/printedition/tuesday/lo
calandstate/orl-churchsplit0608may06,0,6902517,print.story
--
Charles Hohenstein (to reply, remove Gene Robinson)
"The sad huddle of affluent bedwetters, thumbsuckers,
treehuggers, social climbers, homophiles, quavery ladies,
and chronic petition signers that makes up the current
Episcopal Church . . ." -‹Thomas Lipscomb
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